Operating and timing device for laundering machines and the like



AND MECHANISMS W-mmgg 1 49 y 1945- c. H. HAYS, JR 2,379,522

I OPERATING AND TIMING DEVICES FOR LAUNDERING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Dec. 4, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet l v 84 TL 79 I I G I i O O- G D J \\\\\I\ T/K Z3 i 2a IHHHHHI u 1/1/17! 72 i "-q 36 Z5 3 29 FIG. 1 3

CA /m E: H H4 x5 JR.

7 AND MECHANISMS 1 49 CROSS REFERENCE July 3, 1945. c. H. HAYS, JR

OPERATING AND TIMING DEVICES FOR LAUNDERING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 4 Sh eets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 4, 1939 FIG.3

if ANDMECHAN|SM mum HLE'UiLlM;

July 3, 1945. c. H. HAYS. JR 3 5 OPERATING AND TIMING DEVICES FOR LAUNDERING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Dec. 4, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 CHARLES H HAYS JR.

' FIE 2' 7 37 42 E l'f- IIIHUIHIIL l-Ll-lIlI-IIIV n w AND MECHAMSMR warm y 3, 1 -c. H. HAYS, JR 2,379,522

OPERATING AND TIMING DEVICES FOR LAUNDERING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Dec. 4, 1959 4 sneei's-sheet 4 7 o a 72 so 8 A M2648 I Patented July 3, 1945 OPERATING AND TIMING DEVICE FOR LAUNDERING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Charles H. Hays, Jr., Northeast, Pa., assignor to Jamestown Metal Equipment Company, -Inc., Jamestown, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application December 4, 1939, Serial No. 307,397. Divided and this application June 8,

1943, Serial No. 490,058

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in operating devices for actuating and setting in operation mechanisms by which to perform given work, and is a division of my Patent #2361367, dated October 31, 1944, for an improvement in Laundering machines.

The present invention is directedto, and has for an object, the provision of a device that is adaptable to many machines in which a number of operations are required to be performed in timed sequence, and is shown and described in connection with a laundering machine that successively washes, rinses, and dries, It is also an object of the invention to provide a structure that includes adjusting or setting mechanisms which enables varying or changing both sequence and timing of any given set of operations; A further object of the invention is to provide an operative mechanism such that it will function to set in motion. operational machine parts, of itself perform operations that may require the controlledapplication of a considerable force. Additionally, the device is of such proportions as to be relatively compact, being constructed in a manner to provide for easy assembly, replacement, or repair, and is readily adjustable to alter both timing and operating sequences.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; and in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a laundering machine in which is embodied one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View, parts being broken away to a point substantially as suggested by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and illustrates, in plan, the general relationship of the parts of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the invention, further showing the relationship of various operable parts;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view showing those of the parts of the device that are normally enclosed within a casing;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4, and shOWS certain of the details of timing and work producing parts;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 4, showing the reduction gear drive for the device;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 1'l of Fig. 4, and shows the timin parts and theoperatingmechanism therefor;

Fig. 8 is a further vertical sectional view of the drive mechanism for the timing parts, being taken substantially on the line 8--8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is an exploded view, in plan, of the timing ratchets, friction plates and cam;

Fig, 10 illustrates one position assumed by an arm associated with, and actuated by, the cam shown in Fig. 8; and

Fig, 11 isv a view similar to Fig. 10 showing the other position of the arm in response to rotation of the cam.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral I0 is employed to generally designate a laundering machine adapted to perform the operations of washing, rinsing, and drying, and with which the present invention is associated to require the performance of these operations in timed sequence. The machine includes a casing ll, within the lower portion I2 of which is located a drive mechanism and timing" device, such mechanism being enclosed from above by a member I4 from which extends up-' the mounting of the receptacle and its drive 4 member l9, forming no part of the present invention.

Beneath the member M, a frame 2| supports a motor 22 which, through a suitable belt drive 23, rotates shaft 24 and gear 26. An enclosure is provided for certain of the operating parts of the mechanism. This enclosure includes a plate 28 from which is suspended a frame member 25 in any suitable manner, as by. bolts 30. An upstanding portion 21 of this plate is apertured and shaft 24 projects therethrough, the lower end of the shaft beneath the plate being fitted with gear 26 (see Fig. 6). A pan 29, when attached by suitable bolts to the plate 28, completes the enclosure. Also contained within the enclosure is a gear 3| that meshes with gear 26. This gear is mounted for rotation on a pivot member carried by the plate 28, substantially as illustrated in the drawings. One end of a. drive arm 32 is joined to gear 3| substantially as illustrated. The other end of arm 32 is pivotally joined to a, gear segment 33 that is mounted on a pin 34. This gear segment is caused to reciprocate by movement of arm 32. Gear segment 33 meshes with a pinion 36 that is secured to the lower end of the agitator drive shaft l8, and the reciprocating motion imparted through gear segment 33 serves to oscillate the agitator I! in the receptacle l6 during a washing operation of the machine.

Within the enclosureis a shaft 31 which derives its bearing support from the base of frame member 25 and plate 28. A cam member 38, that with a-pinion gear 16 which is joined to one end prevented rotation with the shaft 31 by anchor-- ing their end portions with a pin 48. Above the topmost wheel 45 is a further plate 460 that is also secured by the pin 48 and, again, above the plate 460, is a'guide plate 49, having a portion thereof joined through a pivot :52 to one end of a link 53. The other end of 53 is joined through a pivot 54 to an extension 56 of the gear segment 33. A further friction plate lid is located above the guide plate 49. friction plates, gears, and guide plates are held in their proper relationship by means of a spring '51 that encircles shaft '31 and is located between plate 2-8 and the topmost friction plate #611.

Adjustably suspended from the plate E28 is a pivot bearing 59 with which one end of an arm 58 is associated. arm has an intermediate curved portion that conforms to, and may thus be in immediate proximity with a portion'of the cam 38. Oentrally of the curved portion of this arm is mounted a roller 64 that rests on the cam surface 39. The free end 6-2 of the arm 58 is in the form of ayoke which supports a thrust bearing '63 located onthe lower end -of shaft l8 beneath pinion gear 86. In the present illustration, pinion :gear 86, keyed on shaft 1-8, is of such length as to be movable axially with't-he shaft through movement of :arm 5'8 without -'becoming disengaged from gear segment 33.

The pin 48, which anchors friction plates 46a, 46b, 46c, and 46d, is carried by a bracket-like portion 64 attached to, or formed integral with the frame member 25. This pin also pivotally mounts three similar ratchet dogs 66. These dogs are in superposed position and are so disposed that the lowermost dog engages the teeth of wheel 43; the intermediate dog, teeth of wheel 44,; and the topmost dog, teeth of wheel 45.

The three dogs .are yieldingly held in engage ment with the teeth of the ratchet wheels by a strap spring .61 that may be attached to the member and serve to limit rotation of the gears to one direction. One end of a pawl 68 is pivotally mounted on link '53 by pin 52. This pivot, as mentioned, is also engaged with the guide plate 49. A suitable spring 69 urges the 4 free end of the pawl into position for engagement with the teeth of any or all three of the wheels 43, 44, and 45. From the foregoing it is evident that plate 28 directly, and through the frame member 25, provides the entire support for the operating parts so far described, and that the plate "in turn is so designed and mounted as to be capable of sustaining the weight, twist, or lifting forces involved in the operation of the mechaninsm.

An'extension H of the shaft 31 projects above of a flexible shaft 11. Abracket mounted housing 18 rigidly supports the shaft 11 and gear 16. The flexible shaft 11 extends upwardly between the casing II and the splash ring '13 and is supported at its upper end in a suitable bearing 19.

This end of the shaft mounts a beveled gear 8| thatmeshes with acorresponding gear 82, mounted on a shaft =83. Shaft .83 projects through the casing II and is fitted with a knob 84. It is evident from the foregoing that rotation of knob 84 rotates shaft 31, cam 38, and wheel 43, wheels 44 and 45 being freely rotatable with respect to this shaft. Cam plates 13 and 14, being keyed to the'extension M, are also rotatable by the -knob 34. These cam plates, in the present disclosure, are operably connected one with a valve 86, and the other, an electric switch 81. Valve 86 comtnolsathe flow of liquid into the receptacle I6, whereas switch '8 controls operation :of the motor 22.

Having described the structural parts of a device by which 'to set in motion certain mechanisms, as well as perform certain operations in connection with a launderng machine, the general operation of the device is as follows:

The knob 84 may be rotated, for example, to aposition such that cam :plate '14-will actuate valve 86 and fill the receptacle it with liquid. Following this, washable material is placed in the receptacle and the knob 84 rotated to again actuate cam plate 14,, closing valve 186 and actuating cam plate 13, thus closing switch 8! and starting motor -22. It will be understood that at this point cam plate :38 and wheel !43 are set rfor the washing operation; namely, oscillation of shaft l3 and agitator =11. Through the :drive 28, shaft 24 and pinion gear 26 are rotated. -lactation of pinion 26 rotates gear 3| and, through arm 32, oscillates gear segment 33, which, of course, through gear 36, oscillates shaft it. Since segment 33 includes an extension '56, link 53, joined to this segment, will reciprocate and-such motion moves the pawl -68 through a path that is prescribed by the guide plate 49.

At this point, the purpose of ratchet Wheels, 43, -'44, 45, and cam 38 is set out. The topmost wheel 45 is of a suitable diameter and has cut into its periphery a number of teeth of equal depth and spacing. However, one of the teeth is of considerably greater depth than the others. Wheel 44 is of slightly lesser diameter and has cut into its periphery the same number of teeth, depth and spacing as wheel 45, with the exception of .one tooth that is cut deeper than the others. Similarly, wheel 43 is of a still lesser diameter and has cut into its periphery the same number of teeth as wheels 44 and 45. The deep tooth .of wheel 45 is .such .as to permit engagement of the pawl 58 with the teeth of wheel 43., but this, however, can only take place at such time as the .deep tooth (of wheel .44 aligns with the deep tooth of wheel 45. From the foregoing it is evident that with one complete revolution of wheel 45, the .pawl 68 will advance wheel 44 one tooth, and when a suflicient number .of revolutions of wheel 45 have taken place to com-- ment of the arm 58 and the consequent raising or lowering of shaft It. A complete revolution of wheel 43 is intended to constitute the operating cycle of thelaundering machine and to reset the pawl 68 to again first act upon wheel 45, wheel 43 is formed with at least one tooth 50 so extended as to be flush with the outer diameter of wheel 45. Several such teeth will cause the cam 38 to be directly driven by the pawl 68 and thus, through a part of a given cycle, the cam rotates more rapidly.

In the present description of the operation, the shaft [8 is in its lowermost position in order that the gear on its upper end will engage the ring gear of agitator I! and cause said agitator to oscillate. The agitator will continue oscillation until such time as a high area of the cam surface 39 moves from beneath roller 6|. This causes the arm 58 to move the shaft [8 upwardly to become disengaged from the agitator. In the present showing of the invention in connection with a laundering machine, the arm 58 not only raises sleeve I9 which, being engaged with one of the two mounting means for the receptacle l6, raises said receptacle from off its stationary support and takes the entire load thereof. At the conclusion of this vertical movement, the sleeve l9, through a clutch structure described in the parent application, is caused to rotate. This rotation takes place only as long as the roller 6| remains on the high surface of the cam 38, the

length of time of such operation being determined by the period required to rotate wheels 45 and 44 sufliciently to rotate cam 38 to present a low surface to the roller. It will be kept in mind that since the cam 38 is keyed to shaft 3'1, the extension ll of this shaft will also rotate, as will cam plates 13 and 14 and, consequently, whatever the determined timing arrangement may be, these cams will actuate the water valve 86 and switch 81 in sequence with the determined period of oscillation of the agitator I1 and rotation of the receptacle l6.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the present invention is capable of actuating switch and valve mechanisms in predetermined timed sequence and is also capable of performing, of itself, useful operations even though such operations may require the controlled application of considerable force. This is clearly illustrated in the structure of the cam 38 and arm '58, by means of which not only the agitator is rendered operable, but the receptacle, and contents of washing liquid and material, is caused to be elevated and maintained in such position during high speed rotation thereof. Additionally, it is clear that by the simple expedient of replacing cam 38 with one having a different camrning surface, the period of operation of certain parts may be altered. In this connection, it will also be apparent that by replacing wheels 43, 44, and 45 with wheels having a greater or lesser number of teeth, the complete cycle of operation of any given device may also be altered. Furthermore, without changing either the camming surface 39 or replacing wheels 43, 44, and 45, the time period in which one or more of the sequential operations take place may be altered by rotating knob 84, since this knob serves as a manual means at any time to advance or bring to a close one operation and commence another.

Although I have shown and described only one form of my invention, it will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art that variations of the structure, enabling its application to means other tha'n'that with which it is presently disclosed, are contemplated insofar as they are within the spirit and scope of the invention as set out in the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what 'I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

l. A drive mechanism comprising a reduction ratchet wheel group, a drive member engageable with and operable to rotate each of the wheels of said group, cam means directly associated and rotatable with one of the wheels of said group, means providing a predetermined sequence of engagement and operation of said drive member with each of the wheels of said group, and means carried by the wheel associated with said cam means and operable to by-pass the reduction drive of a part of said group and render said cam means directly responsive to said drive member.

2. A reduction drive mechanism comprising a ratchet group mounted on a common shaft and having relatively rotatable wheels, a cam member adapted to rotate with the slow speed wheel of said group, said member including a track having high and low areas adapted to have contact with and actuate an operative element, a drive member having intermittent and successive operative engagement with all of said wheels in a manner to rotate said cam member at a predetermined frequency, and means rendering said cam member directly responsive to said drive member during a part of the cycle of operation of said group whereby to accelerate rotation of said cam member and movement of an operative element in contact with the track thereof.

3. A drive mechanism comprising a reduction ratchet wheel group, the wheels of said group being mounted on a common shaft, one of said wheels being fixed and'the other Wheels being freely rotatable with'respect to said shaft, a cam member fixed to said shaft, a drive member having intermittent operative'engagement with all of said wheels in predetermined sequence, and means operable independently of said drive memher for rotating. said cam member in a direction to decrease the period of time in which said cam member may complete a cycle of rotation through operation of said wheel group.

4. A reduction drive mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel group mounted on a common shaft, a cam member on said shaft including a track having high and low areas adapted to have contact with and actuate an operative element, rotatable with a slow speed wheel of said group, a drive member, the other wheels of said group being continuously operable by said drive memher in an'intermittent manner, and means on said other wheels for periodically effecting operative engagement of said drive member with said slow speed wheel.

5. A reduction drive mechanism comprising a ratchet wheel group mounted on a common shaft, a cam member on said shaft including. a track having high and low areas adapted to have contact with and actuate an operative element, a slow speed wheel of said group and said cam member being fixed to said shaft, a drive member adapted to operatively engage said slow speed wheel, the other wheels of said group being continuously operable by said drive member in an intermittent manner, and means on said other wheels for periodically effecting operative engagement of said drive member with said slow speed wheel.

6; A drivemechanism comprising? a reduction member with. each: of the wheels of: said group,

ratchebwheel. group, 2:; drive member: engageable and; means; carriedsby the wheel: associated with with and operable; torotate each at thawheels said. cam-means and operable to by-mssv the reof said group, cam means so associatedowithz-onea duotiomdrive of apart of 'saim group andirender of the wheels of said group as; to. be rotatable saidcam means directly responsive to said. drive therewith, means providing: a; predeterminedxhemember. quence of engagement and operationof said; drive I CHARLES H. HAYS, JR. 

